South Hunterdon stunned by Shore Regional in first round of NJSIAA CJ1 girls' basketball tournament

WEST AMWELL — For the last time this season and ever, Brett Lelie and Lauren McBride stood on the cushy padded floor of the South Hunterdon High School weight room after a girls’ basketball game.

Any disappointment after their upset loss in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I quarterfinals tonight to 10th-seeded Shore Regional, 59-47, would be short-lived, they said, however much it stung.

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More permanent — and powerful — they said, were the feelings shared, memories forged, friends that became family over the course of this season, full of so much more than basketball.

You know, stuff worth smiling over.

“This season, we had the chance to grow together, to become a family,” said McBride, who had 11 points in her sophomore finale. “That’s something we’ll have forever.”

“It hurts to lose, it really does,” said Lelie, a senior, after her last game. “But I’m really glad to be able to say in 5, 10 years we can look back on the good times and memories and things we were able to accomplish this season. We’re proud of that.”

Emily Olsen sank four 3s to score a game-high 23 points for Shore, which advances to tomorrow’s semifinals. Lelie drained three deep balls en route to 15 points for the Eagles, who wrap 2013-14 as the owners of the program’s second-best record.

Shore (8-17) moved the ball, found shooters and cashed in on chances throughout. The Blue Devils hit on 40.5 percent of their 42 shots, and 9 of 20 from distance. Emily Reiser nailed three 3-pointers toward her 14 points. Allie Reiser knocked down six of Shore’s 16 free throws on 25 attempts and finished with 12 points.

Yet South Hunterdon (19-6) endured, and nearly emerged. Down eight points for most of three quarters, a Sarah Franzini trey made it 38-36 with just over two minutes to play in the third — the closest the Eagles came to leading. Franzini finished with seven points.

The Blue Devils scored the next 11 points and took over from there. The result made for the only set of back-to-back losses for the Eagles this season.

“I’m fortunate, very fortunate to have had this group of girls,” South Hunterdon coach Dave Hallinan said. “They cared very deeply for each other. They played for each other. They’re great people. I’m very lucky to have been the coach of a group of girls like this.”